Autoblog

Click above for our high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R

Nissan recently granted Autoblog four fleeting days with a red 2009 Nissan GT-R. While it seems every major automotive outlet has tested "Godzilla" on the track (including our First Drive), we chose instead to keep it on the streets to see if one of the world's most powerful and fastest accelerating cars could be domesticated by stop-and-go traffic, family errands, and carpool duty. Of course, we only stuck to that routine for a day or two... the rest of the time was spent on the famed canyon roads of Southern California. Follow the jump to read about our 100-hour experience in the Nissan GT-R and don't miss what very well may be the most beautiful gallery of high-res images we've ever published courtesy of our own Drew Phillips and all ready to become your next desktop wallpaper.


All photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

UPDATE: We've rerun the GT-R drive due to pure awesomeness.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R in action

For the lucky 1,700+ people who have already preordered their 2009 Nissan GT-R, the wait is about to end. On Monday, July 7th, Nissan will begin delivering its first allocation of GT-Rs for the U.S. market to dealers. According to a Nissan spokesperson, the 70-percent preorder rate for the GT-R exceeded the automaker's expectations, and we somehow doubt Nissan will have a hard time finding buyers for the remaining 30 percent.

Pricing for the GT-R remains the same, with the base model coming in at $69,850 and the premium model listed at $71,900. Destination and handling costs amount to $1,000 and the only options available on the 2009 model are an iPod converter ($360), GT-R floor mats ($280) and the "Super Silver" special paint ($3,000). Make the jump for the press release.

The Nissan GT-R has been an Internet and magazine sensation from the day the GT-R prototype was unveiled. While team Ghosn no doubt loves the free press, only Nissan could present the complete GT-R story from its 1969 beginning to today. Nissan has developed a global portal for enthusiasts and prospective buyers to drool over the GT-R, study the supercar's specs, and learn the history of Japan's four-wheeled golden boy. When you enter the site, go to "The World of Nissan GT-R" and click any of the red dots over Japan to travel the GT-R's decades long timeline of racing success. There are also plenty of pictures and videos for you to peruse, as well as links on all points of the globe where the GT-R story unfolded. If you have any interest at all in the GT-R, the site's worth the visit. Thanks for the tip, Chris!


[Source: Nissan]

Click above for a high-res gallery of our first encounter with a Nissan GT-R

When a friend tipped us that there might be an R35 Nissan GT-R drifting around Southern California, we tried to get more details. As the facts started trickling in, we realized we might actually be able to get some seat time if we played our cards right. Well, we did get some seat time and we were definitely impressed. So what if the "seat" was on the opposite side of the steering wheel? Even amidst car-jaded Southern Californians, this thing drew a huge crowd. We were lucky enough to work our way to the front of the line and were eventually invited inside for a short ride around the block. So, what did we think? The most highly anticipated car of the day is one helluva ride, as you might expect. But the levels to which Nissan has gone to make this car a world beater had some in the crowd comparing this to the Bugatti Veyron for sheer technology overload. Follow the jump for more first impressions and click on the gallery below for some more high-res live shots. And don't think this is our last time in a GT-R, as we'll also be on hand for Nissan's official media ride and drive in the near future.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the U.S.-spec Nissan GT-R.

Nissan's upcoming supercar, the 2009 GT-R, has a base price of $69,850. It's a relative bargain when you consider the 911 Turbo, offering the same level of all-wheel-drive performance, will cost you at least $126,200. However, it's still far bit steeper than the average sales price of a new car in the United States (hovering just under $30,000 this year), not to mention the insane dealer markups that will likely put the sale price into the stratosphere. To help ease the financial burden, and put one of these turbocharged 473-hp monsters in your garage, Nissan North America has indicated that they will be offering a lease option on the all-new GT-R.

Don't print out your credit score and jog down to your local Nissan dealer just yet. There are about 1,400 Nissan dealerships in the States, and only 691 of them have begun to take pre-orders. Total sales volume allocated to the United States the first year will be just 1,500 units (to put that into perspective, consider that Nissan sold 284,762 Altimas last year).

While a lease program will be in place, Nissan expects most consumers to buy the vehicles. Purchase or lease, with high demand and low sales volumes you can be sure that each and every one of the GT-Rs will be fought over.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click the above image for more live shots of the Nissan GT-R

A press event has never been so well attended, or dangerously overcrowded. But we got to the front in time to watch in car footage of a GT-R lapping the Nurburgring in 7:38.5, then out came Carlos to claim that his new baby is the best that Nissan has ever produced – and we're inclined to agree. Unsurprisingly the show car is silver, and, well looks pretty much like it did in the spy shots, but the shock was that Mr. Ghosn committed to Nissan fielding GT-Rs in next year's Super GT Championship. Could this be the start of another R32-like Godzilla race track domination?

Deliveries start in next month, and to the rest of the world by the end of 2008. Check out the gallery, we'll have tech specs up soon.

All live photos ©2007 Justin Gardiner / Weblogs, Inc.

With the current frenzy of Nissan GT-R information and the extreme anticipation of the next Fast and Furious installment we bring you a combination of the two with Paul Walker's R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II. While not quite an eBay auction, the car is listed for sale at duPontREGISTRY.com. It is one of only 12 R34 GT-Rs that were brought in by the now defunct Motorex. This car is federally legalized, so no need to worry about it getting impounded, but folks in California still lose out as it does not have the necessary CARB requirements for registration.

The cost of ownership comes in at a hefty $140,000. This price encompasses enough goodies to evoke wet dreams from many a JDM fanboi. It comes fitted with parts such as a complete RB26DETT Tomei engine, twin HKS GT2530 ball bearing turbochargers, HKS intercooler, HKS F-CON V Pro engine management and a bunch of other things mostly labeled HKS or Tomei.

[Source: duPontREGISTRY.com]

Click the image above for a huge gallery of shots of the new Nissan Skyline.

It finally sank in a while back that Skyline and GT-R are now two exclusive entities unto themselves. As such, Nissan has just unveiled its newest version of the Skyline to its domestic market, which is essentially the Infiniti G37 here in the States, but with an additional three horsepower, Nissan's new pop-up engine hood technology and a blind-spot monitor system.

The V36 Skyline comes with the VQ37VHR V6 engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or an electronic five-speed auto 'box that employs "Adaptive Shift Control," revising shifts dependent on driving style and environmental situations.

Four flavors of Skyline are available to Japanese consumers -- the 370GT, Type-P, Type-S and Type SP – all ranging in price and options.

We've posted Nissan's full press release after the jump for all you JDM OCD types, and there's a gallery below for your viewing enjoyment.

It cometh. Dealers in Japan opened the sluices on GT-R orders as of yesterday. Pre-ordering will be possible until October 24, when the car is revealed at the Tokyo Auto Show. Caveat emptor: anyone who signs his or her name on an order form will not be allowed to cancel that order. You sign, you buy.

And the three varieties of GT-R are again confirmed, with dealers actually having sales material in hand listing models and specs. The rundown we know of is the standard model at 480 HP and $57,000, a V-Spec for $67,000, and an EVO-spec with 530 HP, 200 fewer pounds and a $94,000 tag. The home team -- Japan, that is -- begins receiving deliveries in December.

[Source: 7tune]

Although the reveal of the Nissan GT-R is less than two months away, details surrounding the coupe's performance prowess have mainly centered on speculated stats and spy shots showing a Porsche 911 Turbo in tow around the Nurburgring. According to an interview with an unnamed test-driver in Japan's Car Top magazine, certain PR-types and marketing people at Nissan got a special treat earlier this month when the automaker brought out a few GT-Rs, a handful of hot shoes, a Z33 Fairlady Z and a 911 Turbo to run laps around the Tochigi proving grounds.

Read on for more...